First edition of Junior Stars Cricket Cup held in Ludhiana

Ludhiana: The first edition of Junior Stars Cricket Cup was held at GRD Global Education Ground, Ludhiana. The IPL style grand event was organised by the Leading Business Magnate of Ludhiana Mr. Hemant Sood & his wife Mrs. Sonal Sood in association with Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA). The trials for the teams selection was done on Thursday by former Punjab Ranji players to form two equal teams namely ‘Warriors’ and ‘Panthers’ of players between age groups of 9 to 12 years. 

Team Panthers’ captain Krishiv Oswal won the toss and elected to field. 

Team warriors opened their innings with captain Armaan Kothari and Ryan Sehgal. The Panthers got their first break through in the 2nd over as Krishiv dismissed Ryan off his very first ball and Warriors were 14/1. Naman Sood and Armaan Kothari played some fluent shots all across the ground completing their 50 partnership before Naman Sood was run out for his superb 22 off just 16 balls. The next batsman Aarav Dadu and Armaan took their team past 100 before the captain got dismissed for his brilliant 42 off just 26 balls in the 10th over. Here arrived Shrihaan Munjal who along with Aarav Dadu hammered the bowlers all around the park, taking their team to a dominant 235/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Both remained unbeaten adding 133 runs in last 10 overs. Aarav Dadu scored 74* off 51 balls with 13 boundaries while Shrihaan Munjal scored 43* off 29 balls with 3 sixes and 4 fours. Suhaan Goyal was the pick of the bowlers for Panthers conceding just 37 runs of his quota of 5 overs taking 1 wicket.

Team Panthers facing a humongous target of 236 lost both their openers cheaply before captain Krishiv Oswal arrived and started taking on the bowlers with full might. The disciplined bowling of warriors however didn’t allow any other Panthers’ batsmen to settle and support the skipper as Panthers’ went 71/6 in 8 overs. Reyansh Khosla tried his best to hold one end giving maximum strike to Krishiv who was at his supreme best hitting towering sixes all across the park. However the captain’s scintillating form was brought to halt by warriors skipper Armaan who dismissed him at 80 off just 34 balls with the help of 7 sixes and 7 fours. No their Panthers batsmen could hold the fort and the entire team got out for 158 with brilliant bowling spell by Aarav Garg taking 3 wickets for just 28 runs in his quota of 5 overs. Captain Armaan also took 3 wickets for his team.

Armaan Kothari was adjudged as the Man of The match for his brilliant all round performance.

Quotes from the organiser Mr. Hemant Sood “I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to have witnessed such competitive and disciplined cricket by all the players at such young age.”